Hockey: NZ end with a win

New Zealand ended pool play on a high by beating Belgium 3-1 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup international men's hockey tournament in Malaysia today (NZT).

The result left the New Zealanders to play Pakistan in the playoff for third at the seven-nation event in Ipoh late tonight.

They struck first in the ninth minute with a classic Hayden Shaw drag flick from a penalty corner after sustained pressure.

Simon Child added the second in the 22nd minute by deflecting home from a Blair Hopping slap hit into the circle from a set play variation.

Child added his second goal to take the score to 3-0 in the 45th minute after evading several defenders with a weaving run before finding the perfect finish from the top of the circle, driving hard into the bottom of the goal.

The match then degenerated into a scrappy affair before Belgium scored a consolation goal from a free hit in the 59th minute.

New Zealand had 20 to 25 scoring opportunities while the Belgians threated their goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex only twice.

Meanwhile, India will meet Argentina in the final.

India won their final pool match 2-1 over Malaysia, while Argentina drew 2-2 with Canada.

- NZPA